Fiber optic and slip ring rotary joint for suspension arm

ABSTRACT

A medical suspension arm assembly including a plurality of suspension arms, with each adjacent pair of the suspension arms being connected to each other by a joint and with at least one of the joints comprising an infinite rotation joint. The infinite rotation joint allows the suspension arms at the infinite rotation joint to have unlimited rotation relative to one another. Cabling including at least one fiber optic cable extends through each of the suspension arms and each joint. A wired medical unit is connected to an end of the plurality of suspension arms. High definition video, data and power can be transferred along each one of the suspension arms through the cabling and across each joint.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.62/056,878, filed Sep. 29, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a joint, and in particular to aninfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint that can be used inmedical devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Surgical monitors have been used in operating rooms to provide images tosurgeons in the room. Likewise, other wired devices, such as surgicallights, speakers, joysticks, keyboards and cameras, have been used inoperating rooms to provide surgical information to a surgeon or otherperson in the operating room (e.g., images from a camera or patientvital information). Such devices receive and/or provide signals andpower to and/or from various supports mounted or provided in theoperating room, thereby requiring wiring to extend through supports forsuch devices to the devices. Such wiring arrangements have necessitatedthat the rotation of joints of the supports be limited (e.g., usingstops to limit rotation) to allow the wiring to extend fully through thesupports without subjecting the wiring to excessive and damagingtwisting of the wiring. Alternatively, if the rotation of the jointsallowed for a larger range of rotation, such arrangements do not allowfor a large data transfer rate of transmitted through the supports tothe devices. Thus, there is a need for accommodating wiring in a waywhich will allow for a large data transfer rate while simultaneouslyallowing the supports to be fully and easily adjustable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, according to one aspect, is directed to a medicalsuspension arm assembly including a plurality of suspension arms, witheach adjacent pair of the suspension arms being connected to each otherby a joint and with at least one of the joints comprising an infiniterotation joint. The infinite rotation joint allows the suspension armsat the infinite rotation joint to have unlimited rotation relative toone another. Cabling including at least one fiber optic cable extendsthrough each of the suspension arms and each joint. A wired medical unitis connected to an end of the plurality of suspension arms. Highdefinition video, data and power can be transferred along each one ofthe suspension arms through the cabling and across each joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by wayof example and should not be construed as being limited to the specificembodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which likereference numerals indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a suspension arm assemblyaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the suspension arm assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the suspension arm assembly accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the suspension arm assemblyaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first infinite rotationjoint of the suspension arm assembly according to the present inventiontaken from the circle V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a second infinite rotationjoint of the suspension arm assembly according to the present inventiontaken from the circle VI of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a third infinite rotationjoint of the suspension arm assembly according to the present inventiontaken from the circle VII of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the data and power communications acrossan infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring rotary joint according tothe present invention.

FIG. 9A is a partial cross-sectional side view of a infinite rotationfiber optic and slip ring rotary joint according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 9B is a first end view of the infinite rotation fiber optic andslip ring rotary joint according to the present invention.

FIG. 9C is a second end view of the infinite rotation fiber optic andslip ring rotary joint according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first area of theinfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring rotary joint according tothe present invention taken from the circle X of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a second area of theinfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring rotary joint according tothe present invention taken from the circle XI of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 12 a schematic view of the data communications across a fiber opticrotary joint using a multiplexer according to the present invention.

The specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings,and described in the following specification are simply exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The reference number 10 (FIGS. 1-4) generally designates a suspensionarm assembly of the present invention. The suspension arm assembly 10includes a ceiling attachment member 24, a wired medical unit 16 and aplurality of arms 12 between the ceiling attachment member 24 and thewired medical unit 16. The intersections between one of the arms 12 andthe ceiling attachment member 24, each of the arms 12, and one of thearms 12 and the wired medical unit 16 allow for infinite rotation. Eachintersection also includes an infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joint 14 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) therein. A cabling system 22 transmitsdata and power through the suspension arm assembly 10 to the wiredmedical unit 16 and the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ringjoints 14 allow for unlimited rotation of the arms 12 and the wiredmedical unit 16.

The illustrated suspension arm assembly 10 is configured to bepositioned within a room (e.g., an operating room) and, in theillustrated embodiment, includes the wired medical unit 16, which isconfigured to provide information to the medical personnel in the roomand/or to assist the medical personnel in the room perform variousfunctions. In the illustrated example, the wired medical unit 16includes a display support assembly 18 at a distal end of one of thearms 12 for supporting a display monitor 20 for providing surgicalinformation to a surgeon or other person in the operating room (e.g.,images from a camera (e.g., an in-light camera or an endoscopic camera)or patient vital information). It is contemplated that other items(e.g., surgical lights, dual displays, cameras, microphones, etc.) inaddition to or instead of the display monitor 20 can be located at theend of the suspension arm assembly 10.

In the illustrated example, the suspension arm assembly 10 is connectedto a ceiling and supports the wired medical unit 16 above a supportsurface, such as a floor. The suspension arm assembly 10 includes theceiling attachment member 24, a first one of the arms 12 in the form ofan extension arm 26 connected to the ceiling attachment member 24 at afirst infinite rotation joint 28, a second one of the arms 12 in theform of a load counterbalancing spring arm 30 connected to the extensionarm 26 by a second infinite rotation joint 32, and the display supportassembly 18 connected to the load counterbalancing spring arm 30 with athird infinite rotation joint 34. While the suspension arm assembly 10is illustrated as having two arms 12, it is contemplated that thesuspension arm assembly 10 could have any number of arms 12 (includingonly one arm 12). Furthermore, while particular configurations ofinfinite rotation joints having the infinite rotation fiber optic andslip ring joint 14 are described below, it is contemplated that anyconfiguration of infinite rotation joints having the infinite rotationfiber optic and slip ring joint 14 therein could be used. Moreover,while the suspension arm assembly 10 includes the ceiling attachmentmember 24 for connecting the suspension arm assembly 10 to a ceiling, itis contemplated that the ceiling attachment member 24 could be used toconnect the suspension arm assembly 10 to any structure (fixed ormovable) above a support surface, such as a floor.

The illustrated ceiling attachment member 24 accepts the cabling system22 therein and supports the suspension arm assembly 10 from the ceilingof a room. The ceiling attachment member 24 includes a ceilingattachment flange 36 and a down tube 38. The ceiling attachment flange36 can have any configuration for connecting to a ceiling supportstructure. In the illustrated embodiment, the ceiling attachment flange36 is a flat circular disc 40 having a plurality of holes 42 thereinconfigured to receive fasteners (not shown) for fixedly connecting theflat circular disc 40 to the ceiling support structure. The flatcircular disc 40 includes a central opening 44 receiving a first section46 of the cabling system 22 therethrough. The down tube 38 includes adown cylinder 48 being co-axial with the central opening 44 in the flatcircular disc 40 of the ceiling attachment flange 36. The down tube 38can have any axial length to adjust for various heights of ceilings inthe room. The ceiling attachment member 24 further includes a centralaxis spindle 50 for connecting the down tube 38 to the extension arm 26.

In the illustrated example, the central axis spindle 50 allows forinfinite rotation of the extension arm 26 about the ceiling attachmentmember 24 and houses one of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joints 14 therein connecting the first section 46 of the cablingsystem 22 to a second section 52 of the cabling system 22. The centralaxis spindle 50 includes an axis cylinder 54 having a pair of down tubemounting flanges 56 including an upper disc 58 and a lower disc 60. Theupper disc 58 surrounds a top edge of the axis cylinder 54 and the lowerdisc 60 surrounds a central area of the axis cylinder 54. The upper disc58 and the lower disc 60 have the same outer diameter corresponding tothe inner diameter of the down cylinder 48 of the down tube 38 and haveouter surfaces 62 which are aligned with one another such that the upperdisc 58 and the lower disc 60 abut against an inner surface 64 of thedown cylinder 48 of the down tube 38 (see FIG. 5). Fasteners (not shown)extend through aligned openings 74 in the down cylinder 48 and intoopenings 76 in the outer alignment surfaces 62 of the upper disc 58 andthe lower disc 60 to fixedly connect the down cylinder 48 to the centralaxis spindle 50. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the lower disc 60 closes abottom open end 78 of the down cylinder 48. An outer surface 66 of theaxis cylinder 54 includes an upper bearing receiving area 68 locateddirectly below the lower disc 60 and a lower bearing receiving area 70located adjacent but spaced from a bottom edge 72 of the axis cylinder54. The axis cylinder 54 also includes a bearing receiving surface belowthe lower bearing receiving area 70. The axis cylinder 54 receives theinfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 therein and isreceived in a proximal end 80 of the extension arm 26.

The illustrated extension arm 26 is connected to the ceiling attachmentmember 24 at the first infinite rotation joint 28. The extension arm 26includes a hollow tube 82 having the proximal end 80 connected to theceiling attachment member 24 at the first infinite rotation joint 28 anda distal end 84 connected to the load counterbalancing spring arm 30 atthe second infinite rotation joint 32. As illustrated in FIG. 5, theproximal end 80 of the extension arm 26 includes a spindle receivingblock 86 receiving the central axis spindle 50 therein. The spindlereceiving block 86 includes a side tube receiving counterbore 88 in aside face 96 thereof receiving an end of the hollow tube 82 therein forfixedly connecting the hollow tube 82 to the spindle receiving block 86.The spindle receiving block 86 further includes a central spindlereceiving circular hole 90 that extends through the spindle receivingblock 86 from a top surface 92 to a bottom surface 94 thereof. An upperbearing ring receiving counter bore 98 in the top surface 92 of thespindle receiving block 86 surrounds the central spindle receivingcircular hole 90 to form a top step surface 100 located below the topsurface 92. Likewise, a lower bearing ring receiving counter bore 102 inthe bottom surface 94 of the spindle receiving block 86 surrounds thecentral spindle receiving circular hole 90 to form a bottom step surface103 located above the bottom surface 94. In the illustrated example, thespindle receiving block 86 has a circular cross-section. However, it iscontemplated that the spindle receiving block 86 could have any exteriorshape.

In the illustrated example, the central axis spindle 50 is inserted intothe spindle receiving block 86 of the extension arm 26 to allow theextension arm 26 to rotate about the axis cylinder 54 of the centralaxis spindle 50. During assembly of the suspension arm assembly 10, oneof the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joints 14 isconnected to the first section 46 of the cabling system 22 (as discussedin more detail below) and inserted into an interior 104 of the axiscylinder 54 through the bottom edge 72 of the axis cylinder 54. A stator106 of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 is thenfixed to the axis cylinder 54 by fasteners (or any other connectionmethod) such that the stator 106 of the infinite rotation fiber opticand slip ring joint 14 at the first infinite rotation joint 28 remainsstationary relative to the room.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, a first bearing ring 108 and a secondbearing ring 110 allow the extension arm 26 to rotate relative to theceiling attachment member 24 about a first vertical axis 129. The firstbearing ring 108 surrounds the axis cylinder 54 at the upper bearingreceiving area 68, with the lower disc 60 of the central axis spindle 50resting on the first bearing ring 108. The first bearing ring 108 islocated within the upper bearing ring receiving counter bore 98 in thetop surface 92 of the spindle receiving block 86 and rides on the topstep surface 100. The second bearing ring 110 surrounds the axiscylinder 54 at the lower bearing receiving area 70. The second bearingring 110 is located within the lower bearing ring receiving counter bore102 in the bottom surface 94 of the spindle receiving block 86, with thebottom step 103 resting on the second bearing ring 110. A disc shapedspanner nut 112 is connected to an end of the axis cylinder 54 (e.g., bybeing threaded onto the axis cylinder 54) to hold the second bearingring 110 on the end of the axis cylinder 54. The disc shaped spanner nut112 also compresses the second bearing ring 110 between the bottom step103 of the lower bearing ring receiving counter bore 102 and the discshaped spanner nut 112 such that the second bearing ring 110 rides onthe disc shaped spanner nut 112. The disc shaped spanner nut 112 therebyensures that the extension arm 26 is securely connected to the ceilingattachment member 24 to allow the extension arm 26 to rotate about theceiling attachment member 24 in a stable manner.

In the illustrated example, a rotor 114 of the infinite rotation fiberoptic and slip ring joint 14 is allowed to rotate relative to the stator106 of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 and isconnected to the second section 52 of the cabling system 22. Therefore,the rotor 114 of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint14 at the first infinite rotation joint 28 and the second section 52 ofthe cabling system 22 are able to rotate with rotation of the extensionarm 26 about the ceiling attachment member 24. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the second section 52 of the cabling system 22 enters the hollow tube 82of the extension arm 26 through a cabling entrance 116 in the hollowtube 82 adjacent the spindle receiving block 86 at the proximal end 80of the extension arm 26. A cosmetic and protective cover 118 covers abottom of the proximal end 80 of the extension arm 26, with the cosmeticand protective cover 118 being connected to a bottom of the hollow tube82 in order to cover the cabling entrance 116 and also being connectedto a bottom of the spindle receiving block 86 to protect a bottom of thespindle receiving block 86, the infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joint 14 at the first infinite rotation joint 28, the disc shapedspanner nut 112, and the central axis spindle 50. The cosmetic andprotective cover 118 protects the second section 52 of the cablingsystem 22 connected to the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ringjoint 14 at the first infinite rotation joint 28 and hides the secondsection 52 of the cabling system 22 from exposure.

The illustrated second section 52 of the cabling system 22 extendsthrough the extension arm 26 and is connected to a second one of theinfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joints 14 at the secondinfinite rotation joint 32. The second infinite rotation joint 32includes an intersection of the extension arm 26 at the distal end 84thereof and a proximal end 120 of the load counterbalancing spring arm30. The illustrated extension arm 26 includes a circular pivot tubereceiving block 122 at the distal end 84 thereof, with the circularpivot tube receiving block 122 being connected to the hollow tube 82 ofthe extension arm 26. The circular pivot tube receiving block 122includes a side tube receiving bore 124 receiving the hollow tube 82therein for fixing the hollow tube 82 to the circular pivot tubereceiving block 122. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the circular pivot tubereceiving block 122 includes a stepped vertically oriented circularbearing tube receiving hole 126 extending therethrough. The steppedvertically oriented circular bearing tube receiving hole 126 includes asmaller diameter lower portion 121, a larger diameter upper portion 123and a step 125 between the smaller diameter lower portion 121 and thelarger diameter upper portion 123. A tubular sleeve 127 is located inthe smaller diameter lower portion 121 and a top surface 129 of thetubular sleeve 127 abuts the step 125. As illustrated in FIG. 6, thehollow tube 82 is inserted into the side tube receiving bore 124 untilthe hollow tube 82 abuts the exterior surface of the tubular sleeve 127.

In the illustrated example, the tubular sleeve 127 is configured toreceive a bearing tube 128 of the load counterbalancing spring arm 30therein for connecting the load counterbalancing spring arm 30 to theextension arm 26. An interior surface of the tubular sleeve 127 definesa circular inner bearing surface 132 within the circular pivot tubereceiving block 122. As illustrated in FIG. 6, an access area 134 islocated in the circular pivot tube receiving block 122 above the tubularsleeve 127 for allowing the second section 52 of the cabling system 22to pass from the hollow tube 82 and into the circular pivot tubereceiving block 122. It is contemplated that the circular pivot tubereceiving block 122 could have an open top 136 covered by a removablecover 138. The tubular sleeve 127 has an open bottom area 130 forreceiving the bearing tube 128 of the load counterbalancing spring arm30 therein.

The illustrated load counterbalancing spring arm 30 is configured torotate about a second vertical axis 131 at the second infinite rotationjoint 32 and a third vertical axis 133 at the third infinite rotationjoint 34 (see FIG. 2). The load counterbalancing spring arm 30 is alsoconfigured to allow the third infinite rotation joint 34 to movevertically relative to the second infinite rotation joint 32. The loadcounterbalancing spring arm 30 includes a proximal knuckle member 146, acentral member 140 and a distal knuckle member 148. The proximal knucklemember 146 has the bearing tube 128 extending therefrom for connectingthe proximal knuckle member 146, and thereby the load counterbalancingspring arm 30, to the extension arm 26. The proximal knuckle member 146also includes the second vertical axis 131 extending therethrough. Theproximal knuckle member 146 is pivotally connected to the central member140 to allow the central member 140 to pivot about a first horizontalaxis 142. The central member 140 is also pivotally connected to thedistal knuckle member 148 to allow the central member 140 to pivot abouta second horizontal axis 144. The distal knuckle member 148 alsoincludes the third vertical axis 133 extending therethrough. The distalknuckle member 148 is connected to the wired medical unit 16 asdiscussed in more detail below.

In the illustrated example, the proximal knuckle member 146 has thebearing tube 128 extending therefrom for connecting the proximal knucklemember 146 to the extension arm 26. The proximal knuckle member 146includes a U-shaped side wall 154, a bottom wall 156 and a top wall 158,with the bearing tube 128 extending through an opening 151 in the topwall 158. The U-shaped side wall 154 includes a curved wall section 166below the circular pivot tube receiving block 122 and a pair of steppedside wall sections 180 extending from the curved wall section 166 todefine an open end opposite the curved wall section 166. Each of thestepped side wall sections 180 include a circular recessed area at aterminal end thereof for accepting disc projections 182 of the centralmember 140 as discussed in more detail below. The top wall 158 includesa substantially flat portion 184 connected to a top of the U-shaped sidewall 154 and an arcuate portion 186 connected to the top of the circularrecessed areas of the U-shaped side wall 154. The bottom wall 156includes a curved section 190 connected to a bottom of the U-shaped sidewall 154 and an arcuate portion 192 connected to the bottom of thecircular recessed areas of the U-shaped side wall 154. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the bearing tube 128 extends upwardly out of the opening 151 inthe flat portion 184 of the top wall 158 and directly into the tubularsleeve 127 of the circular pivot tube receiving block 122. A fixingprojection 200 extends from an inside face 202 of the U-shaped side wall154 to connect the bearing tube 128 to the proximal knuckle member 146.

The illustrated bearing tube 128 of the load counterbalancing spring arm30 is inserted into the open bottom area 130 of the tubular sleeve 127of the circular pivot tube receiving block 122 of the extension arm 26to connect the load counterbalancing spring arm 30 to the extension arm26. The bearing tube 128 includes a bearing cylinder 160, an upperbearing ring 162 connected to an upper area 164 of the bearing cylinder160 and a middle bearing ring 165 connected to a middle area 168 of thebearing cylinder 160 directly above the top wall 158 of the proximalknuckle member 146. The tubular sleeve 127 includes an upper circularrecess 210 receiving the upper bearing ring 162 therein and a lowercircular recess 212 receiving the middle bearing ring 165 therein forallowing the bearing tube 128, and thereby the load counterbalancingspring arm 30, to rotate relative to the extension arm 26. The wiredmedical unit 16 is thereby allowed to rotate about the second verticalaxis 131 at the second infinite rotation joint 32.

In the illustrated example, one of the infinite rotation fiber optic andslip ring joints 14 at the second infinite rotation joint 32 isconnected to the second section 52 of the cabling system 22 and a thirdsection 170 of the cabling system 22 extending through the loadcounterbalancing spring arm 30 as discussed in more detail below. Thestator 106 of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14at the second infinite rotation joint 32 is fixed to the bearing tube128 by fasteners (or any other connection method) such that the stator106 of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 at thesecond infinite rotation joint 32 is stationary relative to the loadcounterbalancing spring arm 30. Likewise, the rotor 114 of the infiniterotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 at the second infiniterotation joint 32 is allowed to rotate relative to the stator 106.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the third section 170 of the cablingsystem 22 extends through the central member 140 of the loadcounterbalancing spring arm 30 and is connected to a third one of theinfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joints 14 at the thirdinfinite rotation joint 34. The third infinite rotation joint 34includes an intersection of the load counterbalancing spring arm 30 atthe distal end 172 thereof and the wired medical unit 16. The centralmember 140 of the load counterbalancing spring arm 30 is pivotallyconnected to the proximal knuckle member 146 at the first horizontalaxis 142 to allow the wired medical unit 16 to rotate about the firsthorizontal axis 142. The central member 140 is also pivotally connectedto the distal knuckle member 148 at the second horizontal axis 144 toallow the wired medical unit 16 to rotate about the second horizontalaxis 144.

The illustrated load counterbalancing spring arm 30 is configured tohave the central member 140 rotate simultaneously about the proximalknuckle member 146 and the distal knuckle member 148. The central member140 includes an outer shell 174 having a substantially rectangularcross-sectional shape. A parallel pair of the disc projections 182extend from each end of the outer shell 174. A parallelogram connectionassembly 176 extends through the outer shell 174 and is connected toboth the proximal knuckle member 146 and the distal knuckle member 148to allow the central member 140 to rotate simultaneously about theproximal knuckle member 146 and the distal knuckle member 148.

In the illustrated example, the distal knuckle member 148 connects theload counterbalancing spring arm 30 to the wired medical unit 16. Thedistal knuckle member 148 includes a U-shaped side wall 220, a bottomwall 222 and a top wall 224, with a down tube 226 extending downwardlyfrom the bottom wall 222 for connection to the display support assembly18 of the wired medical unit 16. The U-shaped side wall 220 includes acurved wall section 228 coextensive with the down tube 226 and a pair ofstepped side wall sections 230 extending from the curved wall section228 to define an open end opposite the curved wall section 228. Each ofthe stepped side wall sections 230 include a circular recessed area at aterminal end thereof for accepting disc projections 182 of the centralmember 140 as discussed in more detail below. The top wall 224 includesan angled portion 232 connected to a top of the U-shaped side wall 220and an arcuate portion 234 connected to the top of the circular recessedareas of the U-shaped side wall 220. The bottom wall 222 is arcuate andis connected to a bottom of the U-shaped side wall 220.

The illustrated parallelogram connection assembly 176 extends betweenand is connected to the proximal knuckle member 146 and the distalknuckle member 148. The parallelogram connection assembly 176 includesan upper rod 250, a lower rod 252, a proximal knuckle connection 254 anda distal knuckle connection 256. The proximal knuckle connection 254includes a pair of parallel plates 258 extending between the arcuateportion 186 of the top wall 158 and the arcuate portion 192 of thebottom wall 156 of the proximal knuckle member 146. The upper rod 250 islocated between the parallel plates 258 and pivotally connected theretoby a pivot pin 260 located at the first horizontal axis 142 to allow theupper rod 250 to pivot about the first horizontal axis 142. The lowerrod 252 is pivotally connected to an outside face 262 of one of theparallel plates 258 by a pivot pin 264. Like the proximal knuckleconnection 254, the distal knuckle connection 256 includes a pair ofparallel plates 266 extending between the arcuate portion 234 of the topwall 224 and the bottom wall 222 of the distal knuckle member 148. Theupper rod 250 is located between the parallel plates 266 and pivotallyconnected thereto by a pivot pin 268 located at the second horizontalaxis 144 to allow the upper rod 250 to pivot about the second horizontalaxis 144. The lower rod 252 is pivotally connected to an outside face262 of one of the parallel plates 266 by a pivot pin 270.

In the illustrated example, the parallelogram connection assembly 176allows the second horizontal axis 144 to move vertically relative to thefirst horizontal axis 142. As the distal knuckle member 148 is lowered,the upper rod 250 will pivot about the pivot pin 260 located at thefirst horizontal axis 142, which will also force the lower rod 252 topivot about the pivot pin 264 at the proximal knuckle member 146.Because the upper rod 250 and the lower rod 252 of the parallelogramconnection assembly 176 form a parallelogram with the parallel plates258 in the proximal knuckle member 146 and the parallel plates 266 inthe distal knuckle member 148, the distal knuckle member 148 will notrotate as the distal knuckle member 148 is lowered (that is, a linebetween the pivot pin 260 and the pivot pin 264 in the proximal knucklemember 146 will remain substantially parallel to a line between thepivot pin 268 and the pivot pin 268 in the distal knuckle member 148,with both lines remaining substantially vertical). As is well known tothose skilled in the art, a spring can be located within the centralmember 140 (e.g., partially surrounding the upper rod 250) to maintainthe parallelogram connection assembly 176 in a selected rotatedposition.

The illustrated central member 140 covers the pivot areas of the loadcounterbalancing spring arm 30. The outer shell 174 of the centralmember 140 includes a top wall 280 that rides on the arcuate portion 186of the top wall 158 of the proximal knuckle member 146 and the arcuateportion 234 of the top wall 224 and the bottom wall 222 of the distalknuckle member 148 during lowering and raising of the loadcounterbalancing spring arm 30. Likewise, the outer shell 174 of thecentral member 140 includes a bottom wall 282 that rides on the arcuateportion 192 of the bottom wall 156 of the proximal knuckle member 146and the bottom wall 222 of the distal knuckle member 148 during loweringand raising of the load counterbalancing spring arm 30. Each end of theside walls 284 of the outer shell 174 of the central member 140 have oneof the disc projections 182 extending therefrom. The disc projections182 cover the circular recessed area at the terminal ends of the steppedside wall sections 180 of the U-shaped side wall 154 of the proximalknuckle member 146 to form a cosmetic joint. The disc projections 182also cover the circular recessed area of the pair of stepped side wallsections 230 of the U-shaped side wall 220 of the distal knuckle member148 to form a cosmetic joint.

In the illustrated example, the distal knuckle member 148 connects theload counterbalancing spring arm 30 to the wired medical unit 16. Thedown tube 226 of the distal knuckle member 148 receives a bushingcylinder 300 of the display support assembly 18 therein to connect thedistal knuckle member 148, and thereby the load counterbalancing springarm 30, to the display support assembly 18. The display support assembly18 includes an inverted U-shaped frame member 302, an arm connectionassembly 304 connected to a top of the inverted U-shaped frame member302 and a pair of display pivot brackets 306. The arm connectionassembly 304 includes a split sleeve 308 that surrounds the top of theinverted U-shaped frame member 302, with the bushing cylinder 300extending upwardly from a center of the split sleeve 308. The bushingcylinder 300 includes an upper cylindrical bushing 320 located in anupper bushing channel 322 in an outside surface 324 of the bushingcylinder 300 and a lower cylindrical bushing 326 located in a lowerbushing channel 328 in the outside surface 324 of the bushing cylinder300. A pin slot 330 extends around the perimeter of the bushing cylinder300 between the upper bushing channel 322 and the lower bushing channel328.

The illustrated wired medical unit 16 is connected to the distal knucklemember 148 of the load counterbalancing spring arm 30 by inserting thebushing cylinder 300 of the display support assembly 18 into the downtube 226 of the distal knuckle member 148. As illustrated in FIG. 7, thedown tube 226 of the distal knuckle member 148 has a radial pin opening332 extending through a wall 334 of the down tube 226. When the bushingcylinder 300 of the display support assembly 18 is fully inserted intothe down tube 226 of the distal knuckle member 148, the radial pinopening 332 in the wall 334 of the down tube 226 is aligned with the pinslot 330 in the bushing cylinder 300. A yoke retaining clip 336 extendsthrough the radial pin opening 332 and into the pin slot 330 in thebushing cylinder 300 to connect the wired medical unit 16 to the distalknuckle member 148. The yoke retaining clip 336 also allows the wiredmedical unit 16 to rotate about the distal knuckle member 148 at thethird vertical axis 133. Once the yoke retaining clip 336 is insertedinto the radial pin opening 332 and the pin slot 330, a cylindricalretaining clip sleeve 340 surrounding the down tube 226 is slid downwardto cover the radial pin opening 332 in the wall 334 of the down tube 226to lock the yoke retaining clip 336 in position. A fastener 342 can beinserted through the cylindrical retaining clip sleeve 340 and into thedown tube 226 to lock the cylindrical retaining clip sleeve 340 inposition.

In the illustrated example, one of the infinite rotation fiber optic andslip ring joints 14 at the third infinite rotation joint 34 is connectedto the third section 170 of the cabling system 22 and a fourth section350 of the cabling system 22 extending to the display monitor 20. Thestator 106 of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14at the third infinite rotation joint 34 is fixed to the down tube 226 ofthe distal knuckle member 148 by fasteners (or any other connectionmethod) such that the stator 106 of the infinite rotation fiber opticand slip ring joint 14 at the third infinite rotation joint 34 isstationary relative to the load counterbalancing spring arm 30.Likewise, the rotor 114 of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joint 14 at the third infinite rotation joint 34 is allowed torotate relative to the stator 106.

The illustrated fourth section 350 of the cabling system 22 extendsthrough the down tube 226 of the distal knuckle member 148 of the loadcounterbalancing spring arm 30, the bushing cylinder 300 of the armconnection assembly 304, the inverted U-shaped frame member 302, and tothe display pivot brackets 306. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the displaypivot brackets 306 are connected to a display frame and cable shield 360holding the display monitor 20 and allow the display monitor 20 to pivotabout the display pivot brackets 306. The display frame and cable shield360 can have a handle 362 to assist in positioning the display monitor20 to a desired position. It is contemplated that the handle 362 can beremovable for sterilization and/or can have a removable/replaceablesterilizable cover.

The illustrated cabling system 22 provides power and information to thewired medical unit 16 through the display support assembly 18. It iscontemplated that each of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joints 14 can transmit any combination of the following: digitaldata through a fiber optic connection, digital or analog data through atleast one coaxial cable connection, digital or analog data through atleast one serial data connection, low voltage power through at least onelow voltage power connection, AC power through at least one AC powerconnection, and a ground wire connection.

FIG. 8 illustrates the power and information transmitted through thecabling system 22 and each of the infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joints 14 of the illustrated embodiment. The illustrated cablingsystem 22 includes a fiber optic cable 500 leading into and out of eachinfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14, a pair of groundwires 502 leading into and out of each infinite rotation fiber optic andslip ring joint 14, a pair of AC power wires 504 leading into and out ofeach infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14, four lowvoltage wires 506 leading into and out of each infinite rotation fiberoptic and slip ring joint 14, four twisted pairs of serial data wires508 leading into and out of each infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joint 14 and four coaxial cables 510 leading into and out of eachinfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14. However, it iscontemplated that the cabling system 22 could have more or less of thewires and cables outlined above.

The following chart lists examples of the cables and wires leading intoand out of each infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14:

Cable Data Function: type: Size: Type: Volts: Amps: type: Video Fiber 50μm HD-SDI, and optic broad- DVI, Audio band HDMI, Data with a any HDtrans- 3 mm signals, mission jacket any SD signals, Ethernet, networkand other data Video Coaxial RG- 10 100 mA and cable 179 max Audio Datatrans- mission Serial Serial 26-28 10 100 mA RS-232, Data Cable in AWGmax RS-485, trans- Twisted CAN, etc. mission Pairs Low Cu or 26-28 28max 1000 mA Voltage Al wire AWG max Power AC Power Cu or 16-18 120-24010 A Al wire AWG VAC Ground Cu or 18 120-240 10 A Al wire AWG VACIt is contemplated that the fiber optic cable 500 can be single mode ormultimode and can have at least 10 Gb of bandwidth. The coaxial cables510 can have an impedance of 75Ω and can be a coaxial cable sold as partnumber MOGAMI W3351 by MIT Inc. of Tokyo, Japan. The AC power wires 504can be a power line sold as part number 3516/19 by Weico Wire & CableInc. of Edgewood, N.Y.

In the illustrated example, the infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joints 14 (FIGS. 9A-11) transmit all of the data and power throughthe first infinite rotation joint 28, the second infinite rotation joint32 and the third infinite rotation joint 34. The infinite rotation fiberoptic and slip ring joint 14 includes a slip ring housing 520 and afiber optic rotary joint 522 within the slip ring housing 520. The slipring housing 520 includes the rotor 114 and the stator 106. The stator106 includes an exterior stator cylinder 524 having a rotor end wall 526and an exit end wall 528. An internal stator cylinder 530 substantiallyco-axial with the exterior stator cylinder 524 is connected to the exitend wall 528. A wiring area 532 is defined between the exterior statorcylinder 524 and the internal stator cylinder 530. A stator and fiberoptic rotary joint area 534 is defined within the internal statorcylinder 530.

The illustrated rotor 114 includes an exterior cylindrical portion 536extending from the rotor end wall 526 of the stator 106 and an interiorportion 538 located within the stator and fiber optic rotary joint area534 of the stator 106. The exterior cylindrical portion 536 defines atubular housing 540 having an entrance end 535 opposite the stator 106.The fiber optic cable 500 enters the entrance end 535 of the exteriorcylindrical portion 536 of the rotor 114 through a center portionthereof. It is contemplated that the fiber optic cable 500 outside ofthe rotor 114 can have a connector 542 (e.g., a SC, LC, FC, ST, SMA orpigtail type connector) for connecting the fiber optic cable 500 passingthrough the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 to thefiber optic cable 500 of the first section 46, the second section 52,the third section 170 or the fourth section 350 of the cabling system22. It is also contemplated that the fiber optic cable 500 can rununinterrupted up to and between the infinite rotation fiber optic andslip ring joints 14. The ground wires 502, the AC power wires 504, thelow voltage wires 506, the twisted pairs of serial data wires 508 andthe coaxial cables 510 enter the entrance end 535 of the exteriorcylindrical portion 536 of the rotor 114 adjacent a peripheral edge 544of the entrance end 535.

The illustrated ground wires 502, the AC power wires 504, the lowvoltage wires 506, the twisted pairs of serial data wires 508 and thecoaxial cables 510 entering the exterior cylindrical portion 536 of therotor 114 are connected to a center rotating shaft 546 made up of aplurality of individual contact rings 551 and forming the interiorportion 538 of the rotor 114. Each of the ground wires 502, the AC powerwires 504, the low voltage wires 506, the serial data wires 508 and thecoaxial cables 510 are connected to one of the individual contact rings551 of the center rotating shaft 546. As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11,each of the individual contact rings 551 are separate by an insulationring 553 to prevent power or data from crossing over to adjacentindividual contact rings 551. Each of the individual contact rings 551include a plurality of circumferential grooves 560 for receiving contactmembers 562 of the stator 106 as discussed in more detail below. It iscontemplated that the individual contact rings 551 transferring powercan be located closer to the exterior cylindrical portion 536 of therotor 114, can have larger diameters and can have adjacent insulationrings 553 with a greater thickness (see FIG. 10) than the individualcontact rings 551 transferring data (see FIG. 11). The center rotatingshaft 546 includes a plurality of terminal end openings 564 foraccepting fasteners 566 therein to connect a rotor portion 568 of thefiber optic rotary joint 522 to the center rotating shaft 546. Thecenter rotating shaft 546 also includes a circumferential groove 548 atan end thereof opposite the exterior cylindrical portion 536 of therotor 114. A bearing ring 550 is located within the circumferentialgroove 548 to support the center rotating shaft 546 and to allow thecenter rotating shaft 546 to rotate within the stator 106.

The illustrated stator 106 includes a portion of the rotor 114 thereinto receive data and power from the rotor 114. The stator 106 includesthe exterior stator cylinder 524 having the rotor end wall 526 and theexit end wall 528, with the internal stator cylinder 530 extendingsubstantially co-axial with the exterior stator cylinder 524 from theexit end wall 528. The internal stator cylinder 530 includes an enlargedabutment area 570 abutting the bearing ring 550 located within thecircumferential groove 548 of the center rotating shaft 546 of the rotor114 to allow the center rotating shaft 546 and the rotor 114 to rotaterelative to the stator 106. The contact members 562 extend through theinternal stator cylinder 530 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) and make contact withthe plurality of circumferential grooves 560 in the individual contactrings 551 of the internal stator cylinder 530. The contact members 562on the outside surface of the internal stator cylinder 530 are engagedwith the ground wires 502, the AC power wires 504, the low voltage wires506, the twisted pairs of serial data wires 508 and the coaxial cables510 exiting the stator 106. As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, theground wires 502, the AC power wires 504, the low voltage wires 506, thetwisted pairs of serial data wires 508 and the coaxial cables 510 exitthe exit end wall 528 through openings 591 located adjacent theperiphery of the exit end wall 528 in wiring groups 593.

The power and data is transferred from the ground wires 502, the ACpower wires 504, the low voltage wires 506, the twisted pairs of serialdata wires 508 and the coaxial cables 510 entering the infinite rotationfiber optic and slip ring joint 14 to the ground wires 502, the AC powerwires 504, the low voltage wires 506, the twisted pairs of serial datawires 508 and the coaxial cables 510 exiting the infinite rotation fiberoptic and slip ring joint 14. As discussed above, the power and data isfirst transferred from the ground wires 502, the AC power wires 504, thelow voltage wires 506, the twisted pairs of serial data wires 508 andthe coaxial cables 510 entering the infinite rotation fiber optic andslip ring joints 14 to the individual contact rings 551 of the centerrotating shaft 546. The contact members 562 extending through theinternal stator cylinder 530 of the stator 106 make contact with theplurality of circumferential grooves 560 in the individual contact rings551 of the internal stator cylinder 530 to transfer the power and data.It is contemplated that the contact members 562 can be brushes (e.g.,graphite particles dispersed in a matrix of silver with the individualcontact rings 551 also being made of silver, gold alloys forming a monoor multi-filament brush with the individual contact rings 551 also bemade of a gold based alloy, etc.), a flexure ring that bridges the outerring and the inner ring and that moves like balls in a ball bearing, orliquid mercury. The power and data is thereafter transferred through thecontacts to the ground wires 502, the AC power wires 504, the lowvoltage wires 506, the twisted pairs of serial data wires 508 and thecoaxial cables 510 entering the infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joint 14 to the ground wires 502, the AC power wires 504, the lowvoltage wires 506, the twisted pairs of serial data wires 508 and thecoaxial cables 510 exiting the infinite rotation fiber optic and slipring joint 14. While power and data is discussed above and travellingonly in one direction from the rotor 114 to the stator 106, the powerand data can travel in both directions through the infinite rotationfiber optic and slip ring joint 14. Moreover, the infinite rotationfiber optic and slip ring joint 14 is capable of being orientated in anydirection (e.g., either the stator 106 or the rotor 114 being locatedfirst in the direction of data and power in the cabling system 22 to thewired medical unit 16). The fiber optic cable 500 exits the exit endwall 528 of the stator 106 through a center portion thereof. It iscontemplated that the fiber optic cable 500 outside of the stator 106can have the connector 542 (e.g., a SC, LC, FC, ST, SMA or pigtail typeconnector) for connecting the fiber optic cable 500 passing through theinfinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 to the fiber opticcable 500 of the first section 46, the second section 52, the thirdsection 170 or the fourth section 350 of the cabling system 22. It isalso contemplated that the fiber optic cable 500 can run uninterruptedup to and between the infinite rotation fiber optic and slip ring joints14.

In the illustrated example, data also passes through the infiniterotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 through the fiber opticrotary joint 522 within the slip ring housing 520. The fiber opticrotary joint 522 includes the rotor portion 568 and a stator portion580. The rotor portion 568 includes increasing larger diameter areashaving an entrance end 582 and a stator connection end 584. A largestdiameter area 586 of the rotor portion 568 includes the fasteners 566extending therethrough and into the terminal end openings 564 of thecenter rotating shaft 546 of the rotor 114 to force the rotor portion568 of the fiber optic rotary joint 522 to rotate with the remainder ofthe rotor 114. The stator portion 580 of the fiber optic rotary joint522 is rotatably connected to the rotor portion 568. The stator portion580 of the fiber optic rotary joint 522 includes a head 590 connected tothe exit end wall 528 of the exterior stator cylinder 524 of the stator106 such that the stator portion 580 of the fiber optic rotary joint 522remains stationary with the remainder of the stator 106.

The illustrated fiber optic cable 500 enters the rotor 114 through theentrance end 535 of the tubular housing 540 of the exterior cylindricalportion 536 of the rotor 114 and exits the stator 106 through the head590 of the stator portion 580 of the fiber optic rotary joint 522. Thefiber optic cable 500 is split within the fiber optic rotary joint 522such that a first portion 600 of the fiber optic cable 500 within thefiber optic rotary joint 522 rotates with the rotor portion 568 of thefiber optic rotary joint 522 and a second portion 602 of the fiber opticcable 500 within the fiber optic rotary joint 522 remains stationarywith the stator portion 580 of the fiber optic rotary joint 522. Thedata is transferred from the first portion 600 of the fiber optic cable500 to the second portion 602 of the fiber optic cable 500 in a mannerwell known to those skilled in the art. The fiber optic rotary joint 522can be the fiber optic rotary joint disclosed in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2009/0226131 entitled “FIBER OPTIC ROTARY COUPLER,” theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.The fiber optic rotary joint 522 can also be a fiber rotary joint soldas part number MJXX-131-50T-STD or MJXX-131-50T-STP by Princetel, Inc.of Hamilton, N.J. The fiber optic rotary joint 522 can be made of anysuitable material (e.g., stainless steel).

In the illustrated embodiment, the data passing through the fiber opticcable 500 can be subjected to an optical multiplexer 700 before the datapasses through the fiber optic rotary joint 522 and then passed throughan optical demultiplexer 702 before passing the data to the wiredmedical unit 16. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, a plurality ofvideo signals 704 can be passed through an electric to opticaltransceiver 706, with each of the video signals 704 having differentwavelengths, before the video signals 704 are passed to the opticalmultiplexer 700. Furthermore, an audio signal 708 can be passed throughan electric to optical transceiver 710 before the audio signal 708 ispassed to the optical multiplexer 700. Moreover, a plurality of controlsignals 712 can be passed through an electric to optical transceiver714, with each of the control signals 712 having different wavelengths,before the control signals 712 are passed to the optical multiplexer700. Likewise, a plurality of network signals 716 can be passed throughan electric to optical transceiver 718, with each of the network signals716 having different wavelengths, before the network signals are passedto the optical multiplexer 700. Each of the video signals 704, the audiosignal 708, the control signals 712 and the network signals 716 are atdifferent wavelengths before the signals are passed to the opticalmultiplexer 700, where the signals are combined. The opticaldemultiplexer 702 separates the signals and optical to electricaltransceivers 720 will transform the video signals 704, the audio signal708, the control signals 712 and the network signals 716 from opticalsignals to electrical signals. The optical multiplexer 700 and theoptical demultiplexer 702 allow for multiple signals to be passedthrough the fiber optic cable 500 and the fiber optic rotary joints 522.Use of the optical multiplexer 700 and the optical demultiplexer 702 forpassing multiple signals through cables is well known to those skilledin the art. Using the optical multiplexer 700 and the opticaldemultiplexer 702, multiple data can be sent through a single wire. Forexample, an HDMI signal with 4 k resolution along with a bidirectionalEthernet signal through the fiber optic cable 500. Although the opticalmultiplexer 700 is referred to as a multiplexer and the opticaldemultiplexer 702 is referred to as a demultiplexer, both the opticalmultiplexer 700 and the optical demultiplexer 702 are both multiplexersand demultiplexers because the data flows in both directions (i.e., isbidirectional). It is contemplated that circulators could be used inconcert with the optical multiplexer 700 and the optical demultiplexer702 to double the capacity of the fiber optic cable 500.

The suspension arm assembly 10 of the present invention is illustratedas having the arms 12 in a single line having a single end point suchthat only two arms 12 meet at the infinite rotation joints. However, itis contemplated that three or more arms 12 could meet at a single joint.In such an arrangement, at least one of the ground wires 502, the ACpower wires 504, the low voltage wires 506, the twisted pairs of serialdata wires 508, the coaxial cables 510 and the fiber optic cable 500could continue along each branch of the arms 12 at the infinite rotationjoints. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the wires and/or cablescould be split at the infinite rotation joints such that the power anddata is sent along each branch of arms 12 to the wire medical units 16at the end of each branch. FIG. 12 illustrates a situation wherein thedata from the optical multiplexer 700 is split off into a branch line750 at an infinite rotation joint and sent to a second opticaldemultiplexer 752 before being sent to an optical to electricaltransceivers 720 and ultimately to a second wired medical unit 16.

In an aspect of the present invention, multiple data and power signalscan be sent along the arms 12 of the suspension arm assembly 10 havingmultiple infinite rotation joints with unlimited range (i.e., unlimitedrange of rotation and number of rotations). Therefore, the suspensionarm assembly 10 allows for a large data transfer rate whilesimultaneously allowing the suspension arm assembly 10 to be fully andeasily adjustable to any desired location. The arms 12 can be made ofany material (e.g., plastic and/or metal) and can be sealed to preventcontamination from entering the suspension arm assembly 10, Furthermore,the arms 12 can have any cross-sectional shape (e.g., square, circularand/or rectangular). Moreover, it is contemplated that the suspensionarm assembly 10 could include mechanisms to hold the arms 12 in aparticular rotated position (e.g., springs, balls, wedges, toggles,etc.). Additionally, it is contemplated that the cabling 22 could haveone or a plurality of connectors (e.g., a SC, LC, FC, ST, SMA or pigtailtype connector) within each arm for connecting a first part of thecabling in an arm to a second part of the cabling in an arm (e.g., toassist in routing the cabling 22 through each arm). Furthermore, it iscontemplated that the cabling 22 only need to extend to an end itemrequiring the high definition data to be sent thereto (e.g., if amonitor is directly connected the extension arm 26, the fiber opticcable could only travel through the first infinite rotation joint 28 tothe monitor, with other cabling traveling through the arms 12 to anotherarea of the arms). If the cabling 22 does not travel to the end of thearms 12, it is contemplated that the arms after the end of the cablingdo not need to have any further infinite rotation joints. Furthermore,it is contemplated that less than all of the joints of the suspensionarm assembly 10 could have infinite rotation. For example, it iscontemplated that the first joint 28 or both the first joint 28 and thesecond joint 30 could include stops preventing unlimited rotation atthese joints. In such a situation, it is contemplated that the infiniterotation fiber optic and slip ring joint 14 could still be used at thesejoints to transmit power and data, only with stops limiting rotation, orthat these joints could have other configurations for transmitting powerand data with mechanical stops limiting rotation (with, for example, allof the wiring passing directly through these joints).

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognizedthat variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, includingthe rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medical suspension arm assembly comprising: aplurality of suspension arms, each adjacent pair of the suspension armsbeing connected to each other by a joint, with at least one of thejoints comprising an infinite rotation joint; the infinite rotationjoint allowing the suspension arms at the infinite rotation joint tohave unlimited rotation relative to one another, the infinite rotationjoint comprising an electrical contact assembly and an infinite rotationfiber optic joint mounted within the electrical contact assembly,wherein the electrical contact assembly comprises a first portion thatcomprises a plurality of first electrical contacts and a second portionthat comprises a plurality of second electrical contacts that contactthe plurality of first electrical contacts, wherein the first portion isrotatably mounted to the second portion such that the plurality of firstelectrical contacts can rotate relative to the plurality of secondelectrical contacts, wherein the infinite rotation fiber optic jointcomprises a rotor portion that is directly rotatably connected to astator portion of the infinite rotation fiber optic joint, wherein therotor portion is mounted to the first portion of the electrical contactassembly and the stator portion is mounted to the second portion of theelectrical contact assembly, wherein a first end of the infiniterotation fiber optic joint is infinitely rotatable relative to a secondend of the infinite rotation fiber optic joint about an axis thatextends centrally through both the first end and the second end; cablingincluding fiber optic cabling and at least one electrical power supplywire extending through each of the suspension arms and each joint,wherein a first fiber optic cable is connected centrally to the firstend of the infinite rotation fiber optic joint and a second fiber opticcable is connected centrally to the second end of the infinite rotationfiber optic joint, and wherein the first fiber optic cable and thesecond fiber optic cable directly interface each other through theinfinite rotation fiber optic joint; and a wired medical unit connectedto an end of the plurality of suspension arms; wherein data andelectrical power can be transferred along each one of the suspensionarms through the cabling and across each joint, and wherein at least aportion of the data can be transferred through the infinite rotationfiber optic joint.
 2. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 1,wherein: the plurality of suspension arms includes two suspension arms.3. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 1, wherein: the datacomprises video that can be transmitted through each of the suspensionarms and through each infinite rotation joint as light in at least oneselected wavelength.
 4. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 1,wherein: the at least one electrical power supply wire comprises an ACpower wire.
 5. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 4, wherein:the cabling further includes at least one of the following: a groundwire, a low voltage wire, a twisted pair of serial data wires and acoaxial cable.
 6. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 1,wherein: the cabling leads into and out of the electrical contactassembly, and the electrical power passes through at least a portion ofthe first and second electrical contacts.
 7. The medical suspension armassembly of claim 6, wherein: the first portion is a slip ring statorportion and the second portion is a slip ring rotor portion, and theslip ring stator portion has unlimited rotation relative to the slipring rotor portion, with the power passing between the slip ring statorportion and the slip ring rotor portion to pass the power through theinfinite rotation slip ring assembly.
 8. The medical suspension armassembly of claim 7, wherein: the stator portion of the infiniterotation fiber optic joint has unlimited rotation relative to the rotorportion of the infinite rotation fiber optic joint, with the at least aportion of the data passing between the stator portion and the rotorportion to pass the at least a portion of the data through the infiniterotation fiber optic joint.
 9. The medical suspension arm assembly ofclaim 8, wherein: the cabling further includes at least one furtherwiring element comprising a ground wire, a low voltage wire, a twistedpair of serial data wires or a coaxial cable; and the electrical contactassembly connects a first portion of the at least one further wiringelement to a second portion of the at least one further wiring element.10. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 1, further including:at least one multiplexer for multiplexing the at least a portion of thedata traveling through the cabling.
 11. The medical suspension armassembly of claim 1, wherein: the wired medical unit is a video monitor.12. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 1, further including: aceiling attachment member connected to the plurality of suspension armsby a ceiling infinite rotation joint for connecting the plurality ofsuspension arms to a ceiling, the ceiling infinite rotation jointallowing the plurality of suspension arms to have unlimited rotationrelative to the ceiling attachment member, the data and the electricalpower being transferred to the plurality of suspension arms through theceiling attachment member and the ceiling infinite rotation joint. 13.The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 1, wherein: at least twoadjacent pairs of the suspension arms are connected by the infiniterotation joint.
 14. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 1,wherein the at least a portion of the data that can be transferredthrough the infinite rotation fiber optic joint comprises highdefinition video.
 15. A medical suspension arm assembly comprising: aceiling attachment member for connecting the medical suspension armassembly to a ceiling; a first arm; a first rotational jointrotationally connecting the ceiling attachment member to the first arm;at least one second arm; a second rotational joint rotationallyconnecting the first arm to the at least one second arm; a wired medicalsupport; a third rotation joint rotationally connecting the at least onesecond arm to the wired medical support; and data lines including atleast one fiber optic cable extending through the ceiling attachmentmember, the first rotational joint, the first arm, the second rotationaljoint, the at least one second arm and the third rotational joint to thewired medical unit support; wherein data can be transferred along thedata lines from the ceiling attachment member to the wired medical unitsupport; and wherein at least one of the first rotational joint, thesecond rotational joint and the third rotational joint is an infiniterotation joint that allows for infinite rotation, the infinite rotationjoint comprising an electrical contact assembly and an infinite rotationfiber optic joint mounted within the electrical contact assembly,wherein the electrical contact assembly comprises a first portion thatcomprises a plurality of first electrical contacts and a second portionthat comprises a plurality of second electrical contacts that contactthe plurality of first electrical contacts, wherein the first portion isrotatably mounted to the second portion such that the plurality of firstelectrical contacts can rotate relative to the plurality of secondelectrical contacts, wherein the infinite rotation fiber optic jointcomprises a rotor portion that is directly rotatably connected to astator portion of the infinite rotation fiber optic joint, wherein therotor portion is mounted to the first portion of the electrical contactassembly and the stator portion is mounted to the second portion of theelectrical contact assembly, wherein a first end of the infiniterotation fiber optic joint is infinitely rotatable relative to a secondend of the infinite rotation fiber optic joint about an axis thatextends centrally through both the first end and the second end, andwherein a first fiber optic cable is connected centrally to the firstend of the infinite rotation fiber optic joint and a second fiber opticcable is connected centrally to the second end of the infinite rotationfiber optic joint, the first fiber optic cable and the second fiberoptic cable directly interface each other through the infinite rotationfiber optic joint, and at least a portion of the data can be transferredthrough the infinite rotation fiber optic joint.
 16. The medicalsuspension arm assembly of claim 15, wherein: the at least one secondarm comprises a single second arm.
 17. The medical suspension armassembly of claim 15, wherein: the data comprises video that can betransmitted through each of the arms and through each of the infiniterotation joints as light in at least one selected wavelength.
 18. Themedical suspension arm assembly of claim 17, further including: powerlines extending through the ceiling attachment member, the firstinfinite rotation joint, the first arm, the second infinite rotationjoint, the at least one second arm and the third infinite rotation jointto the wired medical unit support; wherein the power lines can transmitAC power.
 19. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 18, furtherincluding: at least one further wiring element comprising at least oneof the following: a ground wire, a low voltage wire, a twisted pair ofserial data wires and a coaxial cable; wherein the further wiringelement extends through the ceiling attachment member, the firstinfinite rotation joint, the first arm, the second infinite rotationjoint, the at least one second arm and the third infinite rotation jointto the wired medical unit.
 20. The medical suspension arm assembly ofclaim 18, wherein: the data lines lead into and out of the electricalcontact assembly, and the power passes through at least a portion of thefirst and second electrical contacts.
 21. The medical suspension armassembly of claim 20, wherein: the first portion is a slip ring statorportion and the second portion is a slip ring rotor portion, and theslip ring stator portion has unlimited rotation relative to the slipring rotor portion, with the power passing between the slip ring statorportion and the slip ring rotor portion to pass the power through theslip ring assembly.
 22. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 21,wherein: the stator portion of the infinite rotation fiber optic jointhas unlimited rotation relative to the rotor portion of the infiniterotation fiber optic joint, with the at least a portion of the datapassing between the stator portion and the rotor portion to pass the atleast a portion of the data through the infinite rotation fiber opticjoint.
 23. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 21, furtherincluding: at least one further wiring element comprising a ground wire,a low voltage wire, a twisted pair of serial data wires or a coaxialcable; and wherein the electrical contact assembly connects a firstportion of the at least one further wiring element to a second portionof the at least one further wiring element.
 24. The medical suspensionarm assembly of claim 15, further including: at least one multiplexerfor multiplexing the at least a portion of the data traveling throughthe data lines.
 25. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 15,wherein: the second rotational joint and the third rotational joint areinfinite rotation joints that allow for unlimited rotation of the firstarm relative to the second arm and unlimited rotation of the at leastone second arm relative to the wired medical support.
 26. The medicalsuspension arm assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least a portion ofthe data that can be transferred through the infinite rotation fiberoptic joint comprises high definition video.
 27. A medical suspensionarm assembly comprising: a plurality of suspension arms, each adjacentpair of the suspension arms being connected to each other by a joint,with at least one of the joints comprising an infinite rotation joint;the infinite rotation joint allowing the suspension arms at the infiniterotation joint to have unlimited rotation relative to one another, theinfinite rotation joint comprising an electrical contact assembly and aninfinite rotation fiber optic joint mounted within the electricalcontact assembly, wherein the electrical contact assembly comprises afirst portion that comprises a plurality of first electrical contactsand a second portion that comprises a plurality of second electricalcontacts that contact the plurality of first electrical contacts,wherein the first portion is rotatably mounted to the second portionsuch that the plurality of first electrical contacts can rotate relativeto the plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the infiniterotation fiber optic joint comprises a rotor portion that is directlyrotatably connected to a stator portion of the infinite rotation fiberoptic joint, wherein the rotor portion is mounted to the first portionof the electrical contact assembly and the stator portion is mounted tothe second portion of the electrical contact assembly, wherein a firstend of the infinite rotation fiber optic joint is infinitely rotatablerelative to a second end of the infinite rotation fiber optic jointabout an axis that extends centrally through both the first end and thesecond end; a wired medical unit support connected to the plurality ofsuspension arms; and cabling including fiber optic cabling and at leastone electrical power supply wire extending through at least one of thesuspension arms and each joint to the wired medical unit support,wherein a first fiber optic cable is connected to the first end of theinfinite rotation fiber optic joint and a second fiber optic cable isconnected centrally to the second end of the infinite rotation fiberoptic joint, and wherein the first fiber optic cable and the secondfiber optic cable directly interface each other through the infiniterotation fiber optic joint; wherein data and electrical power can betransferred along the at least one of the suspension arms through thecabling and across the at least one infinite rotation joint to the wiredmedical unit support, and wherein at least a portion of the data can betransferred through the infinite rotation fiber optic joint.
 28. Themedical suspension arm assembly of claim 27, wherein: the plurality ofsuspension arms includes two suspension arms.
 29. The medical suspensionarm assembly of claim 27, wherein: the data comprises video that can betransmitted through each of the suspension arms and through eachinfinite rotation joint as light in at least one selected wavelength.30. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 29, wherein: the atleast one electrical power supply wire comprises an AC power wire. 31.The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 30, wherein: the cablingfurther includes at least one of the following: a ground wire, a lowvoltage wire, a twisted pair of serial data wires and a coaxial cable.32. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 27, wherein: thecabling leads into and out of the electrical contact assembly, and theelectrical power passes through at least a portion of the first andsecond electrical contacts.
 33. The medical suspension arm assembly ofclaim 32, wherein: the first portion is a slip ring stator portion andthe second portion is a slip ring rotor portion, and the slip ringstator portion has unlimited rotation relative to the slip ring rotorportion, with the power passing between the slip ring stator portion andthe slip ring rotor portion to pass the power through the infiniterotation slip ring assembly.
 34. The medical suspension arm assembly ofclaim 33, wherein: the stator portion of the infinite rotation fiberoptic joint has unlimited rotation relative to the rotor portion of theinfinite rotation fiber optic joint, with the at least a portion of thedata passing between the stator portion and the rotor portion to passthe at least a portion of the data through the infinite rotation fiberoptic joint.
 35. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 34,wherein: the cabling further includes at least one further wiringelement comprising a ground wire, a low voltage wire, a twisted pair ofserial data wires or a coaxial cable; and the electrical contactassembly connects a first portion of the at least one further wiringelement to a second portion of the at least one further wiring element.36. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 27, further including:at least one multiplexer for multiplexing the at least a portion of thedata traveling through the cabling.
 37. The medical suspension armassembly of claim 27, further including: a ceiling attachment memberconnected to the plurality of suspension arms by a ceiling infiniterotation joint for connecting the plurality of suspension arms to aceiling, the ceiling infinite rotation joint allowing the plurality ofsuspension arms to have unlimited rotation relative to the ceilingattachment member, the data and the electrical power being transferredto the plurality of suspension arms through the ceiling attachmentmember and the ceiling infinite rotation joint.
 38. The medicalsuspension arm assembly of claim 27, wherein: at least two adjacentpairs of the suspension arms are connected by the infinite rotationjoint.
 39. The medical suspension arm assembly of claim 27, wherein theat least a portion of the data that can be transferred through theinfinite rotation fiber optic joint comprises high definition video.